Students will soon be able to use their phones and other electronic devices during lunchtime, breaks, before and after school, as well as in class with teacher’s permission. The new Electronic Use Policy goes into effect at the beginning of the second semester and will apply to all students on campus.
Former Student Board Member Derek Wan and current Senior Jonathan Ng first brought up the issue at a district board meeting last year, and a few months ago, a committee met to craft a formal policy. The committee members, who include Student Board Member Senior Kyle Evanko, ASB President Senior Vivian Ka and Assistant Supertintendent of Instructional Services Dr. Kate Franceschini, decided to introduce a pilot program at the high school instead of changing the board policy. Throughout this semester, the committee met three times to discuss what restrictions would need to be put in place and if there would be any marked changes in student policies.
“Personally, I don’t think it will affect students much because a lot of them have their personal devices with them anyway,” Principal Mary Jo Fosselman-King said. “What I think I will do is allow students to access more information during class, but with teacher permission, of course.”
The administration will give students a username and password so they can access the Internet with either phones or laptops. Parents and students should have received a letter from the school with more detailed information.
“It’s hard for me to book the computer lab, so I can’t send students down to use the computers,” English teacher Ms. Erica Dolter said. “Once we get this policy in place, my students can use their phones or laptops to look up word definitions or to do research for class.”
The committee will reconvene in April to review the effectiveness of this policy and to see if any changes need to be made for the following school year.